Collars

We use collars very frequently. We have basic buckle collars that you might use for a walk, a collar that you can use for Apport training, flat agitation collar for Protection, and slip lead for Obedience training (for R-).

As with any tool, the dog should welcome it and have a positive association. You can lure him into the collar. Chances are some collars the dog will have to wear before he knows the Stationing Box, but the concept is the same – lure the dog through the collar and keep feeding him for a short period of time. The Positioning box does help to keep the dog stationary and make it easier to put collars on.

You can leave the collar on and play with him. The dog must not make an association that a specific collar is for a particular job. For instance, the dog knows that when he wears a slip lead – he is going to be under control in obedience. Of course, we cannot have this tool on a competition day. If you have the dog wear these collars when he goes for a walk, etc., you can create what we call a neutral response. It will be easier to have impulse control in a competition without a Helping collar.